Obstetric drape



Patented Sept. 22, 1925.

UNITED STATES ROBERT S. SHANE, OF `PILOT MOUND, IOWA.

OBSTETRIC DRAPE.

Application led .Tune 22, 1925. Serial No. 38,727.

erly covered, which is provided with meansl for holding it properly adjusted and properly in place during labor without interfering with free motion on the part of the patient, and which further is provided with parts so arranged that one sterile surface may be exposed during the first stage of labor and another sterile surface may be exposed readily and easily during the second stage of laborwithout the necessity for removing or changing the dra-pe.

Vith these and other objects in view, my

. invention consists in the construction, ar-

rangement and combination of the various parts of my drape, whereby the objects-contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, ponted out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a plan view of the inner or under side of the drape in one of its positions.

Figure 2 saine; and

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the front of the drape, a part thereof being shown in position for exposing one sterile surface and a part in position for exposing another sterile surface for illustrating the operative functions of the drape.l

It' is a known fact that thousands of women die and thousands more are seriously crippled for life or for a long time as result of infections occurring during childbirth.

It is my purpose to reduce the danger and likelihood of such of infectionsby providing an Obstetric drape of a construction, which will now be described and having advantages in its shape and manner of use, which will be hereinafter explained.

The drape comprises what may be called an apron portion indicated generally by the reference character A and leg or shield porshows a side elevation of the tions indicated generally by they reference character B. 1 i,

The apron A has its upper portion adapted to drape the upper abdomen and is slit for the greater portion of its lower length, as indicated at 10 in Figure 1.

Some suitable means is providedfor securing the upper portion of the apron to the patient at the waist. In the particular form of the invention illustrated in the drawings, I have shown secured to the upper portion of the apron A, strings or braids or the like l1, which may be conveniently tied around` the waist.

Secured to the under side of the apron on opposite sides of the vertical center thereof are the upper parts of legs B, which form protecting shields for the entire anterior lower extremities of the patient. n It wi l be noted that the anterior parts the upper` edges of the legs orshelds B only are secured to the posterior surface ofthe apron portion A.

- The shields or legs B may be open attheir rear parts at their upper ends for some dis-k tance from the top as shown in Figure l.

It is ofconsiderable importance that the drape should be snugly secured around the thighs at the groins in order to prevent its displacement and for this purpose suitable tie strings 12 are provided. These tie strings may be differently attached and arranged, but should be so secured to the drape that it may be snugly secured to both thighs at the groins. In the particular forni here shown, the tie strings 12 are secured to the inner upper parts of the shield B.

I preferably provide some means for connecting the edges 18 of the apron portion A near the upper end of the slit 10 to the shields B. As here shown, the apron portion is `provided with buttonholes 14 shields B with the buttons 15.

The lower portions of the apron parton opposite sides of the slit 10 are indicated Igenerally in the drawings by the reference numeral 16. L

These lower `port-ions of the apron A are also provided with means by which they may be fastened to the patient, such for instance as the tie strings 17.

The construction of the drape will be made clearer and its advantages will appear from the following description of the practical use of the drape.

and the y los In the use of this drape, the drape is placed over the anterior body of the patient and the tie strinvs 11 are carefully `and snugly tied around the waist with the feet, legs and thighs covered by the shields B.

The tie springs 11 are preferably so arranged that they are tied or knotted at the patients left side.

The tie strings 12 are tied around the respective thighs.

The portions 16of the apron member A are left in their lower position and are snugly tied around the'ankles ofthe patient by'means of the tie strings17 as shown at the left-hand part of Figure 3.

l The inner edges of the portions 16 near the upper'end'ofthe slit 10 may be fastened back tothe "shields Br by means of the buttons 15 and `buttonholes 1li as .illustrated at thejleftha'nd part of Figui-e3. A

Thusthe entire lower, anterior part of the patient i'sc'overed and protected.

It will be noted that there are a number of advantages of construction inthis drape f and the manner of securing it; to the'body.

Y During'the'first stage of labor-,the motions of `thepatient tendlto throw off any ordinary drape and tend to drag the drape from the unsterilizedarea' onto the externalparts that have beenv sterilized thus causing contamination and causing extra 'work to prevent infection. j

Itistherefore seen'that this drape snugly secured at the :waistfa't the thighs, and at the 'ankles will be held in place against any accidental displacement` d-uring the first stage of labor 'and'yet willnot interfere with the `freemovement of the patient. y

Atthe same time7 it will'be seen that the lower anterior portion'f the body of the patient is entirely covered by sterilized drape lDuring the first stage of labor, frequently the exposed surface, whichis'the outerside ofthe apron maybecome contaminated.

It is highly desirable that a fresh, completely sterile surface should Ebe provided andexposed for the second lstage of labor, and that any contaminated lsurface should be removed from where itislikely to cause infection, withoutthe necessity of removing or changing the'drape.

'These desirable results are secured with my drape in the following manner:

'At the proper time, the upper central portions of theparts lare nnbuttoned, the tie strings`17 are untied, and the portions 1b are simply 'swung up over the upper body of the patient and the tie strings 17 may be fastened--aroundthe neck to hold'the portions 16 up and out of the way.

A fresh untouched sterile surface is then exposed over the upper part of the body of the patient and the uncontaminated surfaces of the shields B are then exposed over the lower extremities.

Thus fresh, steril@ surfaces of the drape are afforded-and are exposed justat the beginning of the second stage of labor and the delivery can be completed with a minimum danger of infection.

Thisvdrape is a'single complete unit, very compact for transportation and storage so that it has advantages over 4the numerous sterileV sheets, leggings and napkins ordinarily carried to the home or lying-finliospital, in the saving of time, spaceand the handling of many supplies.

Another advantage in this drape isthat'it is very inexpensive. It can 'be vsterilized and used over `and over 'aga-in. f Only `rone article "need be sterilized for affording complete protection -during confinement.

Itwouldbe possible `to embody the 'vital features ofthis invention in a drape modified as to details with relation tothe particular form of -drape illustrated in the drawings, and it is my purpose to cover by myclaims, -any structure, however, modified, which embodies the real spirit and purpose of the vinvention here disclosed.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an Obstetric drape, 'an apron portion `having a central, vertical slit in yits lower partleg and thigh shields secured 'at their upper anterior parts tto the fposterior side oftheapron-portion,fmeansfor securing said'drape A:to lthe'pati'ent at the waist and atfthe groins,fandmeans'at the lower-ends o'f the apron vparts vfor securing said parts to the patient, whereby said parts 'may be secured to' the ankles of the patient or to the upper portion of the body ofthe patient.

In an Obstetric drape, an apron portionbifurcatedrto provid'eltwo lower parts, leg menibers secured at the anterior `parts to the posterior side of the apron portion, means for securing the upper part of the apron portion to the waist of a fpatient, means for securing said drapefto the'patient at thegroins, and=means whereby the ,bifurcated partsof the apron may loe-secured to the ankles ofthe patient covering said legs or'may'besecured to the upper'portion of the body of thevpatient.

3. l'In an Obstetric drape, an apron portion, bifurcated to provide two lower'parts, leg members secured at the upper anterior parts to the posterior side of the `apron portion, means for securing the upper part, of the apron portion to the waist of a patient, means for securing'saidy drape tolthe patient at the groins, and means'for detachably connecting'the bifurcatedparts of the 'apron at their inner edges to said legs.

Des Moines, Iowa, June 11, 1925.

ROBERT S. SI-IANE. 

